Legislation Update: Governor Signs Groundwater Bills

On September 16, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the package of bills regulating groundwater that we recently wrote about here. The Governor’s press release announcing the signing outlines the following deadlines triggered by passage of the law:

• By 2017, local groundwater management agencies must be identified.
• By 2020, overdrafted groundwater basins must have sustainability plans.
• By 2022, other high- and medium-priority basins not currently in overdraft must have sustainability plans.
• By 2040, all high- and medium-priority groundwater basins must achieve sustainability.

 As we wrote previously, the Department of Water Resources must categorize each groundwater basin in the state as high-, medium-, low- or very low-priority by January 1, 2015.  Also, by June 1, 2016, the Department of Water Resources must adopt regulations for identifying the components of groundwater sustainability plans and for evaluating those plans and their implementation.  The law will take effect in January 2015.
 
- Samir Abdelnour
 
For more information, contact Estie Kus at emk@bcltlaw.com or (415) 228-5463; Samir Abdelnour at sja@bcltlaw.com or (415) 228-5443; or Dave Metres at dmm@bcltlaw.com or (415) 228-5488.